Sharp Work

Responding to the persistent ring of your cell phone at an inopportune moment can be, at best, annoying to those around you, and, at worst, rude. How many times have we all sighed when a cell phone rings in the bank, or become annoyed at...

Does this scenario sound familiar?
It’s 7:00 a.m. and your flight departs at 7:30. You’re steadily growing more impatient with the ticket counter; finally you’ve got your boarding pass and are rushing through the terminal to make it to the...

Nothing says "Welcome aboard" like a big lump of cash. With visions of yourself behind the wheel of your new set of SharpWheels, you’re eager to get that ink flowing. But before you commit your John Hancock to the dotted line, make sure...

Every SharpMan knows someone who is always writing letters of complaint. Bad service at the local McDonald’s? Letter. Car radio breaks after one year? Letter. In most cases it seems like a hassle; but when the same guy enjoys his free...

Whether you're looking for a promotion or a little respect, consider improving your image around the workplace. You'll see results quickly when you employ the following SharpWork tips:
Changes to Yourself
Many of the images generally...

Have you ever had a great idea for a "can’t miss" business, but no idea how to get it off the ground? Or even worse — a great idea that someone else gets off the ground first?
Offices all around the country are full of armchair...

So you’re Joe Hi-tech… an Internet savvy guy who is familiar with eBay, the online auction site where regular folks (and some merchants) buy and sell goods of all types. Have you considered how eBay might improve your bottom line? Read on...

They never seem to know what hit them. For them, any comments regarding their behavior appear to come from nowhere. They’re completely oblivious. But the truth is, these feelings about your coworkers have been building for months, perhaps...

Let's face it: most SharpMen cringe when it comes to negotiating their salary. Once a job is offered and a compensation package is on the table, many of us nervously accept the first offer that's thrown our way. But it doesn't have to be...

With the holiday season approaching, most SharpMen will soon be heading out to one or more holiday office parties. Beware: don't be fooled by the music, chatter and abundance of food and drink. This is no ordinary party where you can eat,...

Is it… Mystical?
Pronounced "fung shway," feng shui can be traced back to China… 6000 years ago. Literally translated as "wind, water," feng shui is the study of man and his relationship to the world around him. The goal is to create a...

While you may not be best buds, you do spend a lot of time around your coworkers — so much so that they become a bigger part of our lives than most of us realize. Whether you share a workload or just a workspace, chances are that you rely...

For the uninitiated, the term "telecommuters" refers to paid employees plying their trade away from their regular office setting. SharpMen might want to telecommute full-time or on an occasional basis. On average, most telecommuting...

"A change would do you good."
Is Sheryl Crow singing to you?
A job change may be the exact thing you need in your career. The key word here is "may." And the steps to determining whether a change is what you need follows in this SharpWork...

Whether you’re changing jobs or hitting the market straight out of college, the job search can be nerve-racking. Sure, you know you’re the best man for the job, but you may not be able to find the best job for you.
Moving to a new, unknown...

If you missed Money 101 and Money 102, check them out for an explanation of time horizons, risk tolerance, and asset allocation. Once you have these concepts nailed down, you’re almost ready to start choosing individual investments. But...

You dread work. You go through your day feeling numb. You have no enthusiasm for your job and seem to constantly make mistakes — even in the simplest tasks. You do only the bare minimum, but still come home feeling tired, stressed and...

You're on a tight deadline for a project proposal, but arrive at work to find a pile of messages that require return calls or e-mails. A colleague carrying a mug of coffee stops by to chat and several coworkers rush into your office to...

So your best friend has decided he really doesn’t need to pay you back that $2,500? Or maybe your landlord doesn’t understand why you’d like that security deposit returned to you? What should you do? Well, in some cases you may choose to...

You've been selected to represent your company at an important meeting in another country. When the initial euphoria passes, you begin worrying about how to behave in another culture’s business climate.
Will you say, do or wear the wrong...